Abu Dhabi GP: Alonso suffered big impact in Vergne incident

The Spaniard will have precautionary checks in hospital, with the impact measured at 25g.

The Ferrari and Toro Rosso went wheel to wheel as Alonso emerged from his second pitstop alongside Vergne.

Alonso went outside the track limits to complete a pass.

The stewards were content this was legal as they agreed with Alonso's assessment that Vergne left him no room.

Alonso said afterwards that taking off over the kerbs had triggered the automatic g-loading sensor on his car that tells drivers when an impact is hard enough to make a medical examination necessary.

"I still have all my teeth after the impact," Alonso joked.

"My back is obviously in pain a little bit because it was a big hit.

"We have the alarm on the chassis that goes off when a minimum g-force [is exceeded] for the medical car etc, and the chassis has this alarm now in parc ferme.

"So for sure it was a big hit but I'm OK for Austin obviously."

Alonso added that he initially believed he would emerge behind the Toro Rosso anyway so was expecting to have to pass Vergne later in the lap.

"I wanted to come out behind to be honest, because then in Turn 4 I had the detection point and could pass on the DRS and with the good traction from the new softs," said the Spaniard.

"But I was side by side and already in front, so I was surprised and I was forced to go off the track.

"But 'plan A' was to pass him with the DRS."

He also admitted to some frustration at the attention the incident had earned given that he had managed to come through from 10th on the grid to finish fifth.

"I think it's a minor thing in a fantastic race that we had," added Alonso.